Camera mounting



Dec. 31 1940. MOORE 2,226,827

CAMERA MOUNTING Original Filed June 25, 19 38 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hana/J5 Moo-P6 iv am, 4M, QM fH'Qs F. MOORE Dec. 31, 1940.

CAMERA MOUNTING Original Filed June 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J7\5@ fig 542 Patented Dec. 31, 1940 PATENT OFFICE CAMERA MOUNTING Francis Moore, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Albert Specialty Company, Chicago, 111., a partnership composed of Stanley Flesch and Harold Flesch Original application June 25, 1938, Serial .No.

215,778, now Patent No. 2,188,514, dated Janu- Divided and this application July 27, 1939, Serial No. 286,765

6 Claims. (Cl. 248-483) This invention relates to means for supporting cameras and like instruments, and has to do with tripods. Y

My invention is directed to a tripod having improved means for supporting a camera or like instrument for universal movement, such means being controlled by a single operating member or handle by means of which the camera supporting platform may be locked against movement about either a vertical axis or a horizontal axis, or both. Further objects and advantages will appear from the detail description In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a back view of a tripod provided with camera mounting means embodying my invention, with certain parts partly broken away;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the camera mounting means and tripod of Figure 1, with the tripod legs partly broken away and the operating handle partly broken away;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2, certain parts being shown in elevation and certain other parts being 25 shown partly broken away and in section; and

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of the platform bracket supporting member.

This application is a division of mycopending application for Tripod, Serial No. 215,778, filed 30 June 25, 1938, now Patent No. 2,188,514, dated January 30, 1940.

I have illustrated the camera mounting of my invention, by way of example, as applied to a tripod which comprises legs I5, each formed of 35 two telescoping members l6 and ll of cylindrical tubular steel construction. A ferrule I8 is suitably secured in the upper end of each leg and is interiorly threaded for reception of a screw stud IQ of a fitting 20, as shown in Figure 3. A sec- 40 0nd screw stud 2| extends upward from fitting and screws into a ball 22. The three balls 22 are disposed between two discs 23 and 24 constituting the head of the tripod. Disc 23 is provided, in its underface, with recesses conforming in curvature to the balls 22, disc 24 being provided in its upper face with similar complementary recesses, the recesses of the discs being aligned and receiving the upper and the lower portions of the balls, as shown in Figure 3. Disc 50 24 is further provided with radial slots 25 extending downward therethrough from the ball receiving recesses, these slots flaring downward and outward of the disc and terminating short of the periphery thereof, providing stop elements 26 at the outer ends of the slots, the latter being of a width to accommodate the screw studs 2| while confining them against lateral movement.

Discs 23 and 24 are secured together by three headed screws 21, equally spaced circumferentially of the discs and disposed midway between the ball receiving recesses therein. Disc 24 is provided with openings of a diameter to slidably receive the screws 21, which screw into disc 23, the latter being appropriately bored and threaded to that end. Disc 24 is further provided with an axial threaded bore 28 concentric with an axial bore 29 extending through disc 23. The latter bore slidably receives a screw stud 3|! at the upper end of the reduced shank 3| formed integrally with a locking rod 32 provided, at its lower end, with a grip or handle 33. Stud- 30 threads into the base of a post 34 which seats upon the upper face of disc 23, which post is axially bored and threaded from its lower end for that purpose. The upper end of rod 32 provides a shoulder which, in the operative position.

of this rod, contacts the under face of disc 24. Screw Stud 30 through bore 28 for detaching it from post 34 or, if desired, for removing the locking rod,

Screws 21 are threaded into disc 23 a proper distance for forcing the discs 23 and 24 toward each other into pressure contact with the balls 22, exerting upon the latter a clamping action eifective for presenting predetermined frictional resistance to movement of the legs of the tripod relative to the head thereof. This permits of ready adjustment of the legs as required and, by preventing casual displacement thereof, facilitates such adjustment. After the legs of the tripod have been adjusted radially of the head into desired position, stud 30 is screwed into post 34, by means of rod 32, to such an extent as to force the clamping discs 23 and 24 toward each other under increased pressure, eifective for locking the legs against movement relative to the head, assuring that the adjustment of the legs will remain fixed during the use of the tripod.

Post 34 comprises a flanged base 35 seating upon the upper face of disc 23, a lower body portion 36 and an upper cylindrical stud 31 of reduced diameter. Adjacent its upper end stud 31 is provided with a circumferential groove 38 which receives a split ring 39. The post receives a platform bracket supporting member 4|], having a split collar 4| from which extends an integral neck 42 split in the same plane as collar 4|, this neck having a reduced cylindrical may be threaded downward portion 43. Collar 4| fits about post 31 and seats upon the upper end of body, being confined between the latter and ring 33 and normally free for turning movement about stud 31. The slot or split in neck 42 is a continuation of the slot in collar 4| and terminates a short distance from the outer end of the neck, as will be clear from Figure 4. This slot is designated by the reference number 44 in the latter figure. Neck 42 is further provided, adjacent its inner end, with a cylindrical opening 45 perpendicular to and intersecting slot 44. Opening 45 also intersects a cylindrical bore 46 extending through neck 42 axially thereof, inner portion 460 of this bore being of increased diameter and extending through collar 4|, as shown in Figure 3. At its outer end bore 46 opens into an inwardly tapering frusto-conical recess 41, extending from the outer end of neck 42 and concentric with bore 46. Recess 41 receives and cooperates with a frusto-conical wedge element 43, extending from the inner end of a cylindrical element 49 of a combined screw and wedge member 50 provided, at its outer end, with a knurled head 5|. Member 50 further comprises a reduced shank 52, extending from the inner end of element 48 through bore 46 and threading through a cylindrical block 53 disposed in and of considerably less diameter than the opening 45. The inner end of screw shank 52 preferably is peened over or spread at 54, to prevent complete withdrawal of shank 52 from block 53, the increased diameter of portion 46a of bore 46 accommodating this spread or peened end portion of the screw shank. Conveniently collar 4| is provided with an opening 55 coaxial with portion 46a of bore 46, which opening accommodates a suitable tool for spreading or peening the inner end of shank 52. Any other suitable means may be provided to prevent complete withdrawal of screw shank 52 from block 53.

Cylindrical portion 43 of neck 42 split collar 56 of a plate bracket receives a member 51,

comprising a camera or instrument receiving plate 56 formed integrally with and disposed perpendicular to collar 56. Plate 58 may be of any suitable form and conveniently provided with a threaded bore 59, for reception of a screw member by means of which a camera or like instrument is secured upon plate 58. Collar 56 is confined between shoulder 60, at the inner end of portion 43 of neck 42, and a split ring 6| seating in a circumferential groove 62 adjacent the outer end of neck 42, collar 56 being provided with a recess 63 accommodating the inner portion of ring 6|. In its uncontracted condition collar 56 is free to turn upon portion 43 of neck 42, the supporting plate 58 being thus mounted for turning movement about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

Collar 56 is provided with two depending terminal lugs 64 and 65, the former bored and threaded and the latter being provided with an unthreaded bore aligned with the bore of lug 64. Lug 65 slidably receives a reduced screw stud 66 which threads through lug 64, stud 66 being formed integrally with a rod 61, at one end thereof, said rod being provided at its other end with an elongated knob or grip 66 constituting, with the rod, an operating handle. The end of the rod from which stud 66 extends provides a shoulder which contacts the outer face of lug 65. By screwing stud 66 into lug 64, sleeve 56 may be contracted about portion 43 of neck 42, to desired extent. When sleeve 56 is contracted tightly about portion 43 of neck 42, turning of this sleeve relative to the neck is prevented, bracket member 51 being thus locked to member 43.

When the wedge and its screw member 53 is in its operative or inner position, with element 43 in pressure contact with the surrounding wall of recess 41, it is eflective for preventing contraction oi neck 42. Under such conditions, contraction of sleeve 56 into locking contact with portion 43 of neck 42 does not contract collar 4| or member 43 about stud 31. In that manner the camera supporting plate or platform 53 may be locked against movement about a horizontal axis while being freely movable about stud 31, the desired movement 01' the platform conveniently being effected by means or the operating handle. When collar 56 is not contracted tightly about portion 43 of neck 42, the platform 53 may be moved about a horizontal axis and a vertical axis, by means of the operating handle, as previously noted. I

To look the platform against movement about stud 31, member 56 is screwed outward through block 53 so as to move element 43 out of contact with the surrounding wall 01 recess 41, with proper clearance to permit contraction of neck 42 sufiiciently to contract collar 44 tightly about stud 31in locking contact therewith. The metal at the outer end of portion 43 of neck 42, closing the outer end of slot 44, prevents contraction of the outer end of cylindrical portion 43 of neck 42 so that, when thecollar 56 is contracted about neck 42 the latter is contracted, contracting col lar 4| tightly about stud 31 in locking contact therewith. Contraction of neck 42 in the manner stated is permitted by the relatively thin wall 01' metal closing the outer end of slot 44, such wall serving as a fulcrum about which the two halves of neck 42 rock slightly during contraction of the neck, and being distortable for that purpose. In that manner platform 48 may readily be locked, by proper manipulation of handle 68, against rotation about stud 31. It is thus possible, by means of the operating handle and associated parts, to turn the platform 56 about either a vertical axis or a horizontal axis, or both, to lock the platform against turning movement about either axis, and to lock it against turning movement about portion 43 of neck 42 while permitting movement of the platform about stud 31. In this manner I provide a simple and highly eflicient camera mounting means controlled by a single operating handle in a manner to permit movement of the camera about either a vertical axis or horizontal axis or both. This mounting and operating means is particularly suitable for taking panoramas with motion picture cameras, though it may be used to advantage for many other purposes.

While I have illustrated a preferred form of my invention, by way of example, it will be understood that changes in construction and arrangement of parts thereof may be made without departing from the field and scope of the same, and I intend to include in this application all such variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a post, a member comprising a split collar extending about said post normally free to turn thereabout and a split neck substantially perpendicular to said post, a bracket comprising a split collar fitting about said neck normally ireeto turn thereon, screw means comprising an operating handle contraction of said first collar incident to contraction of said second collar.

2. In a device of the character described, a post, a member comprising a split collar extending about said post normally free to turn thereabout and a split neck substantially perpendicular to said post, said neck having an axial bore and an opening adjacent its inner end intersecting said bore, the outer portion of the latter being substantially frusto-conical and tapering inward, a block loose in said opening, a screw extending through said bore and threading through said block, said screw having a wedge element substantially conforming to and cooperating with said substantially frusto-conical portion of said bore, a bracket comprising a split collar fitting about said neck normally tree to turn thereon, and an operating handle having a screw connection to said second collar effective for contracting the latter.

3. In a device of the character described, a post, a member comprising a split collar extending about said post normally free to turn thereabout and a neck substantially perpendicular to said post having a len thwise slot extending from said collar parallel to the latter, said neck having an opening adjacent its inner end and a substantially axial bore extending from its outer end intersecting said opening and said slot, the outer end of the latter being otherwise closed by a relatively thin distortable wall, the outer portion ,of said bore being substantially frusto-conical and tapering inward, a block loose in said opening, a screw extending through said bore and threading through said block, said screw having a wedge element substantially conforming to and cooperating with said substantially frusto-conical portion of said bore, a bracket comprising a split collar fitting about said neck normally tree to turn thereon, and an operating handle having screw connection to said second collar eifective for contracting the latter.

4. In a device or the character described, a post, a member mounted on said post for turning thereabout, a bracket comprising a second member mounted on said first member for turning about an axis substantially perpendicular to said post, means for simultaneously locking said second member to said first member and the latter to said post as a single operation, and means for optionally disabling said locking means with respect to said first member.

5. In a device of the character described, a post, a contractible member mounted on said post free for turning thereabout when uncontracted and contractible into locking engagement therewith, a bracket comprising a second contractible member mounted on said first member for relative turning when uncontracted about an axis substantially perpendicular to said post, said second member being contractible about said first member into locking engagement therewith and normally being eflective for contracting said first member into locking engagement with said post, means for contracting said second member, and means for optionally preventing contraction or said first member incident to contraction of said second member.

6. In a device of the character described, a post, a member comprising a split collar fitting about said post for turning thereon and a split neck extending substantially perpendicular to said post, a bracket comprising a split collar fitting about said neck for turning thereon, means for contracting said second collar about said neck into locking engagement therewith and thereby contracting said first collar about said post into locking engagement with the latter, and means for optionally preventing contraction oi said first collar.

FRANCIS MOORE. 

